Model railroad car coupler with pivot pin pole piece



1963 c. K. EDWARDS ETAL 3,115,255

MODEL RAILROAD CAR COUPLER WITH PIVOT PIN POLE PIECE Filed Dec. 12. 1961 Clarence K.Edwa rds LaWrenceD. .lfglggsqqoligs United States Patent 3,115,255 MODEL RAILROAD CAR COUPLER WITH PIVOT PIN POLE PIECE Clarence K. Edwards, 1409 Kings Highway, and Lawrence D. Edwards, 1016 Winchester Ave., both of Medford, Greg.

Filed Dec. 12, 1961, Ser. No. 158,778 6 Claims. (Cl. 213211) This invention relates to couplers for model railroad cars and more particularly pertains to couplers of the type which are uncoupled by magnetic forces.

A principal object of the present invention is to provide a coupler of the type described employing in combination an integral drawbar and magnetic member pole piece which provide an extremely compact structure and one which is positive in operation.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a coupler of the type described employing a novel arrangement of pivoted drawbar and integral magnetic member wherein the latter projects from the pivot point.

Briefly stated, the present invention resides in a novel coupling structure embodying an integral pivotal arrangement of a magnetic member and a transversely movable drawbar. The magnetic member extends from the pivot point of the drawbar in depending relation for influenced association with a stationary magnet positioned between the railroad tracks. The magnetic field of the magnet and the pole piece are arranged such that upon positioning the coupler over the magnet the magnetic member rapidly and positively moves the coupler to an open position.

The invention will be better understood and additional objects thereof will become more apparent from the accompanying specification and claims considered together with the accompanying drawings, wherein like numerals of reference indicate like parts, and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view, partly broken away, of a model railroad coupler embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view of the present invention, also with parts broken away; and

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary top plan view of a pair of the present couplers shown in uncoupled position.

Referring now particularly to the drawings the present coupler is associated with model railroad cars having end draft boxes 8. These draft boxes have a hollow interior opening forwardly for receiving a drawbar 12 having the usual coupling head or knuckle 14. Head 14 is provided with an inwardly directed, transversely d-isposed hook 16 and an outwardly projecting, transversely disposed arm 18, the hook 16 being arranged to engage a similar hook on a companion coupler to provide a drawing connection between a pair of cars and the arm 18 being disposed and shaped to provide automatic coupling with a companion coupler upon movement of the cars together.

The drawbar 12 is pivotally supported on a draft box 8 in a novel connection to be described and has an inwardly projecting tab 20 against which presses a compression spring 22 to urge the drawbar continuously into a coupling position. The forwardly opening portion of draft box 8 has a lateral dimension greater than the width of the drawbar to permit the drawbar to pivot from a substantially longitudinally disposed car coupling position, FIG. 1, to angularly directed car uncoupling position, FIG. 3.

According to the principles of the present invention the Patented Dec. 24, 1963 draft box 8 has a vertical bore 26 which intersects the hollow portion 10 of draft box 8, and the drawbar 12 has an integral and upright pole mounting and pivot member or sleeve 28 rotatably mounted in the bore 26. For purpose of assembly, member 28 may comprise a piece of rigid plastic tubing and drawbar 12 may be provided with an aperture 30 for adhesively securing the piece of tubing therein after insertion of the dra'whar into the draft box.

integrally mounted in the tube 28 as by means of a pressed fit or by adhesive, is a magnetic member or pole piece 3 2 which in a preferred structure depends in a downward direction and has a leading end portion 34.

End portion 34 is disposed in a lower plane whereby to be influenced by a stationary permanent or eleetro magnet 36 which preferably is mounted between the railroad tracks. The polarity of the magnet is such as to rotate the pole piece 32 outwardly in the angular direction in which it already extends and in an exemplary arrangement the magnet may have full length edge poles 38 and the magnetic member 32 may comprise an iron pole piece.

in the operation of the present coupler, a pair of cars are automatically coupled by moving them together whereby arms 18 of companion couplers cause an automatic spreading of drawbars 12 to allow hooks 16 to engage. Upon moving the coupling assembly over the magnet 36 and retracting one car slightly the drawbars will swing apart to an uncoupled position.

Since the present drawbar and pole piece are combined in an integrated structure, they operate together in a positive uncoupling function. Furthermore, such a structure is economical to manufacture in that a minimum of parts are utilized and assembly is simplified.

It is to be understood that the form of our invention herein shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of our invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. A magnetic coupler for model railroad cars comprising end frame means on the car, a drawbar, a pivot secured to the drawbar and mounted on the end frame means for pivotal movement on a vertical axis for horizontal transverse movement of the drawbar between a car coupling position and a car uncoupling position, and a magnetic member depending angularly from and integrally connected to the pivot, the magnetic member being adapted, under the influence of a magnetic force, to rotate the drawbar to its car uncoupling position.

2. The magnetic coupler of claim 1 wherein the magnetic member comprises a downwardly extending portion and a longitudinally and laterally extending portion leading from the downwardly extending portion.

3. The magnetic coupler of claim 2 wherein the longitudinally and laterally extending portion of the magnetic member projects in the direction of movement of the drawbar to its car uncoupling position.

'4. The magnetic coupler of claim 1 wherein the pivot connection between the drawbar and the end frame means comprises an annular sleeve forming an integral part of the drawbar and rotatably mounted in the end frame means, and the magnetic member is secured to and depends from the sleeve.

5. The magnetic coupler of claim 1 including resilient means operatively engaging the drawbar and urging the latter toward said car coupling position.

ber depending to a point for influenced relation with the magnetic field of the magnet whereby the draWbar is adapted to be pivoted to its uncoupling position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,868,393 Bailey Jan. 13, 1959 

1. A MAGNETIC COUPLER FOR MODEL RAILROAD CARS COMPRISING END FRAME MEANS ON THE CAR, A DRAWBAR, A PIVOT SECURED TO THE DRAWBAR AND MOUNTED ON THE END FRAME MEANS FOR PIVOTAL MOVEMENT ON A VERTICAL AXIS FOR HORIZONTAL TRANSVERSE MOVEMENT OF THE DRAWBAR BETWEEN A CAR COUPLING POSITION AND A CAR UNCOUPLING POSITION, AND 